Narrowing frame



Nova M, 1952 A. J. COBERT 2,617,283

NARROWING FRAME Filed Oct. 7 1950 3 Sheets$heet 1 Arthur J. Coberf attr neg Nova 11, 1952 A.'J. COBERT NARROWING FRAME 3 Shets-Sheet 2 Filed 00";- 7, 1950 Snnefito'r Arthur J Coberf Gttorneg Nov. 11, 1952 A. J. COBERT NARROWING FRAME 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed 001:. 7, 1950 3110mm A/"fhur J. Caber/ Patented Nov. 11, 1952 N ARROWIN G FRAME Arthur J. Cobert, Chattanooga, Tenn., assignor of fifty per cent to Beautiful Bryans, Inc., a corporation of Tennessee Application October 7, 1950, Serial No. 189,025

This invention relates to a narrowing frame for use in a flat knitting machine.

In the manufacture of knitted fabrics such as ladies full fashioned hosiery, it is necessary to conform the knitted fabric to the shape of the wearers legs. This is done by narrowing the fabric, which is also known as fashioning, a stocking manufactured in this manner being referred to as full fashioned.

In order to produce this narrowing effect, there has to be an overlapping of fabric and this overlapping causes a tuck stitch, which is known as a fashioned mark. A nonapparent pleat is knitted require.

A series of narrowing points or fingers pick up the stitches from the needles at the two selvedge edges of the fabric, usually picking up a total of 24 to stitches on each side of the fabric. The

narrowing points are then mechanically transferred inwardly a distance of two needles on each side, after which they deliver the selvedge stitches back to another set of needles. I

In the Cotton machine in use at present, the narrowing frame is positioned by means of upright arms, the lower ends of which have rollers resting on circular cams. This holds the narrowing frame in a vertical position. In addition to the upright arms there are a series of lon curved arms, known as gooseneck arms, which hold the narrowing frame in a firm horizontal position. The opposite ends of the curved arms are positioned on a common shaft, this shaft being free to move axially. It can be readily understood that, between the two supports, that is, the upright and the curved arms, the narrowing frame is held rigidly and is also guided through its motion by these arms.

In order to understand the object of my invention it is necessary to explain somewhat in detail the movement of the narrowing frame, In

order for the narrowing point to receive the loop from the needle, a downward motion of the narrowing frame is necessary and, in addition to this downward motion, a somewhat horizontal, slightly forward-swinging, hinge-like motion is also necessary.

The downward motion is needed in order to slide from the needles to the narrowing points the loops to be transferred. An upward motion transfers the loops back again to the needles at the proper time. The horizontal motion is necessary in order to insure the proper angle of mesh or register between the needle and the narrowing point. The angle at which they meet must 10 Claims. (01. 6689) be different at the time when the stitch is slipped off the needle from the angle which must be assumed at the moment when the stitch is to be delivered back to the needle.

In the Cotton machine, the angle of the narrowing point is controlled entirely by the are through which the narrowing point travels in its downward motion. This are is extremely limited, being dependent entirely upon the long radius between the point of pivoting of the curved arms and the center point of the narrowing frame. This are is not sufficient for all practical purposes to produce the desired angle or pitch necessary for transferring the stitches.

According to the present invention, it is possible to impart an independent motion to the narrowing frame which will give a much greater angle than would be possible by the old method. The narrowing shaft is swung upon an axis in order to produce any angle or pitch of the frame at the desired moment. Where the Cotton frame is held rigid at this point, a frame made in accordance with my invention is free to swing by means of a separate cam motion. Hence, it can be readily seen that I do not depend upon a limited are produced by the curved arms. In fact, the curved arms are entirely eliminated and the narrowing frame is supported in its vertical movement by means of vertical standards or shafts located on the front of the narrowing frame. I

It is also common practice on the Cotton machine to allow the vertical supports of the narrowing frame to be positioned by means of a. roller or rollers on top of a circular cam. As the narrowing motion commences, the camshaft is shifted into a narrowing position and the rollers follow an eccentrically shaped cam, permitting the narrowing frame to move downward, either solely by virtue of the weight of the frame or by the combined action of the weight of the frame and of the tensile force of springs which have been previously extended. From this explanation, it will be understood that when the Cotton narrowing frame is in its most critical position, which is near the lowest point of its movement, the springs are relaxed and are at their point of lowest efiiciency. There is always a great danger, particularly at high speed, that the cam roller will not follow the contour of the cam accurately, hence distorting the narrowing motion at its most critical point.

It is one of the objects of my invention to change this motion so that the springs will be at their point of greatest compression, and hence of greatest efficiency at this time. This is accomplished by holding the narrowing frame in its upward position by means of compression springs positioned on the front supports and pulling the frame downward, through a positive cam action, against the pressure of these springs. It can be readily understood that at the moment of greatest importance, when the narrowing frame is in its lowest position, the springs will be at their point of greatest efliciency. The springs at this moment are compressed to the greatest extent, insuring that the cam follower follows the cam perfectly. It is to be kept in mind that at the same moment on the Cotton machine the springs will be relaxed or at their point of lowest efficiency.

In my invention, the narrowing frame is given a positive horizontal, forward-swinging, hingelike movement through a separate cam motion, which insures having the proper pitch or angle Of the narrowing points at all times. In addition to this, I have arranged stops or set screws which make .it possible to change independently the angle of the take-off or of the delivery of the stitches. In other words, if it is desired to increase the angle of the narrowing frame at the point of take-off, this can be done by a set screw arrangement which will have no bearing upon the angle at the moment of delivery. There is also a separate adjustment to control the angle at the moment of delivery, without interfering ;With'th$ angle at the moment of take-off.

These set screws are set independently of each other. This adjustment is not available in the Cotton machine. Due to its limited are or uncontrolled pitch, it is not possible to make such adjustments.

It is desirable to vary the set screws and change the pitch or angle of the narrowing frame because, due to the many difficulties arising from attempting to build, such a high precision ma- .chine as a full fashioned knitting machine, it is not always possible to position the needles and narrowing points at their point of greatest efficiency. It often becomes necessary to change the ngle or pitch of the narrowing points when poor register or mesh is noticed. The angle of the needles oftentimes will vary, making it necessary to change the angle of the narrowing points. Some-of this is due to the lack of exact precision in building these machines.

Assuming that it were possible to build a machine in which the angle or pitch relation of the narrowing points and needles would be set exactly, it would still be most desirable to control the pitch angle on the take-off of the narrowing, as compared with the delivery. The Cotton machine has a fixed position which controls both pitches. One cannot be adjusted without affectingthe pitch of the other. 1 Accordingly, an object of my invention is to provide a narrowing frame having a greater angle of tilt than does the old Cotton machine .with no more linear motion.

Another object is to provide a narrowing frame so constructed as to have a positive tilting motion due to its actuation by cams when the narrowing frame is in a downward position, in which it is operative.

A further object of my invention is to provide a narrowing frame having two separate adjustments of tilt, in a forward and in a backward direction, of the frame.

The foregoing and other objects, features and advantages of this invention will be apparent 4 from the following description and from the accompanying drawings of a preferred embodiment, it being understood that the detailed description and drawings are merely illustrative of the invention, which is defined in the claims.

In the drawings,

Figure 1 is a front elevation of one end of a narrowing frame made in accordance with my invention.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the narrowing frame illustrated in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a sectional view on the line 33 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a section on the line 4-4 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a diagrammatic representation of the action of a narrowing point and a needle in a machine made in accordance with my invention at the moment of take-off, with the angle of the narrowing point exaggerated for clarity of illustration.

Figure 6 is a similar diagrammatic representation of a narrowing point and needle in my machine at the moment of delivery.

Figure 7 is a horizontal cross section illustrating the action of the narrowing points in picking up the fabric from the needles and transferring it across to a different set of needles during the .process of narrowing.

Figure 8 is a diagrammatic representation of the action of the narrowing frame in the Cotton machine.

Like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the several figures of the drawings.

According to my invention, the frame I of a knitting machine supports a plurality of vertical standards or shafts 2, extending upwardly from the portion of the frame to which they are secured. A coil or helical compression spring 3 is mounted about each of the shafts 2 with its lower end resting upon the supporting portion of the frame I.

A narrowing frame 4 has vertically disposed sleeves 5 by which it is slidably secured to the shafts 2, the sleeves and hence the narrowing frame being supported by the compression springs 3. A main narrowing shaft 6 is supported in a horizontal position by the narrowing frame 4 and to this shaft is pivotally attached at least one primary connecting rod I, the other end of which is pivotally attached near one end of a horizontal lever 8. In the upper position of the narrowing frame, the end of the lever 8 which is adjacent to the rod 1 bears against a set screw 9 passing through a portion of the main frame I of the machine. The adjustment of the set screw 9 limits the upward movement of the lever 8 and hence of the connecting rod and the narrowing frame I,

The lever 8 is fixed at its other end to a rockshaft I0. An arm II, also fixed at one end to the rockshaft I0, carries at its other end a roller or cam follower I2. The cam follower I2 is positioned for rolling contact with a lifting cam I3 carried on a camshaft I4. Thus, when a projecting portion of the lifting cam I3 comes into contact with the cam follower I2, the arm I I is pushed outwardly, away from the camshaft I4. This, in turn, tilts the rockshaft I0 and the lever 8, thereby pulling the primary rod I, the main narrowing shaft 6, the narrowing frame 4 and its sleeves 5 downwardly against the compression of the coil springs 3. The springs 3 hold the cam follower I2 near the lifting cam I3.

Since the narrowing action takes place when the narrowing frame is in a downward position,

it will readily be seen that my machine provides a narrowing motion which is positive in action. In the operative position, the cam l3 will be acting against the maximum compressive force of the springs 3 and hence there will be little, if any, likelihood that the narrowing frame, in its lower, operative position, will not follow properly the motion of the cam l3, even at high speed of operation.

A carriage I5 is keyed to and slidably supported by the main narrowing shaft 6. The carriage supports a series of narrowing points or fingers l6, extending downwardly. The narrowing points are positioned a relatively short distance above a series of knitting needles l1, suitably supported by the frame I of the machine. As may be seen from an inspection of Figure 5, when the narrowing point descends to take a stitch or loop l8 off the needle, which is in a relatively high position, it is necessary for the narrowing point to assume an angle at which it depresses the spring beard I9 of the needle and at which its tip enters a groove 20 below the spring beard. By doing this, it is made possible for the loop to slip easily off the needle I! onto the narrowing point l6 as both of them are lowered below the level of the upper surface of the knocking over bit 2|. The knocking over bit forces the loop off the needle onto the narrowing point and then the narrowing point is raised. After being raised above the knocking over bit, the narrowing point is transferred inwardly, usually a distance of two needles, and it is then lowered to deliver the loop back to another needle.

The delivery is illustrated in Figure 6, in which it is apparent that the narrowing point I6 must have a considerably different angle relative to the needle H, which is in a relatively low position, from that it had at the take-off illustrated in Figure 5. As the narrowing point comes down into contact with the needle, it must do so at such an angle that the tip of the needle can readily enter a groove 22 in the front surface of the narrowing point. When the tip of the needle has entered that groove, both needle and narrowing point are raised until the loop i8, carried by the narrowing point. comes into contact with the lower surface of a sinker 23, which forces the loop off the narrowing point and onto the needle as both continue to rise.

The inward transfer of stitches in the narrowing operation is illustrated diagrammatically in Figure '7. There is shown a series of loops l8 which have been removed from the needles H by the narrowing points I6 and have been transferred inwardly. There is also shown an overlap of stitches transferred by the needles to the narrowing points, which move the stitches inwardly and then deliver them back to the needles.

For comparison, in Figure 8 there are illustrated the two positions of take-off and delivery in the Cotton machine. The narrowing point I6 engages the needle for take-off in the upper, full line position of the pivoted gooseneck arm 24, which is hinged from a shaft 25 at the rear of the machine. For the delivery, the narrowing point engages the needle at the lower position of the gooseneck arm 24, the narrowing point l6 being illustrated in this lower position in dotted lines. It will be apparent from an inspection of this figure that the angle of the narrowing point at the take-off cannot be varied without affectin its angle at the delivery. Consequently, there is in the Cotton machine no means to compensate for the slight variations in position of the narrowing points and needles which are inherent in the manufacture of such a knitting machine.

In order to produce the proper angle of the narrowing point 3 in my machine at the takeoff and at the delivery, a tilting rod 26 is provided, this rod being pivoted at its upper end to a stud 21 projecting from a horizontal-arm 28 fixed to and extending forward from the main narrowing shaft 6. The lower end of the tilting rod 26 is pivotally attached to a stud 29, fixed to one end of a link 30. The other end of the link 30 is pivoted on a stud 3| which is fixed to the lever 8 near its center. To the lower side of the link 30, adjacent to the stud 29, is fastened a steel plate 32, against which a set screw 33 bears when in operative position. The set screw is threaded through a link 34, which is pivoted on the stud 3| and is moved by a cam follower 35 pivoted at its other end. The cam follower is positioned for rolling contact with a tilting cam 36 during part of the narrowing cycle. The tilting cam is operative during only half of the cycle of the narrowing frame and hence needs to be only a half cam. It is mounted on the camshaft M.

The link 34 has a cutout 31 at the point where it is pivoted on the stud 3| and it is held up by a key cap 38. A key or ridge 39 of the cap 38 fits into a groove in the stud 3|. The purpose of this arrangement is to hold the link 34 up in a horizontal position, without preventing its rising when the tilting action takes place. This permits the use of a smaller tilting cam and economizes in the space needed for the tilting mechanism above the camshaft.

The action of the tilting mechanism will be aparent from the above description and from an inspection of the accompanying drawings. The relative positions of the lifting cam l3 and of the tilting cam 35 are so arranged that the tilting mechanism is operative only in the lower position of the narrowing frame. As the frame is lowered, the tilting roller 35 comes into contact with the tilting cam 36, the link 34 is lifted, thereby moving the set screw 33 into contact with the plate 32. This, in turn, causes the lifting of the link 30 and thus of the tilting rod 26. The tilting rod 26, acting through the stud 21, causes the carriage l5, and thus the narrowing point I4, to be tilted through the proper angle at the proper time. The tilting is completed as the frame moves upwardly due to the action of the lifting cam l3.

By appropriate adjustment of the set screw 33, the amount of forward tilt of the narrowing point can be properly set.

The amount of tilt in a backward direction is also adjustable, as may be seen in Figure l. The arm 28, fixed to and projecting horizontally forward from the main narrowing shaft 6. bears against a set screw 4|. This set screw is carried by a frame member 42 which is fastened to the narrowing frame 4. By a suitable adjustment of the set screw 4|, the angle of tilt of the narrowing frame carriage I5 in a backward direction can be adjusted to a suitable amount.

A tension spring 43, stretched between a lug 44, extending from the surface of the tilting rod 25 near its upper end, and a hook 45, fastened to the upper surface of the lever 8, assists the force of gravity in holding the rod 26 downwardly. This also holds the carriage l5 rearwardly, so that the horizontal arm 28 normally bears against the set screw 4|. When the carriage is tilted by the action of the tilting roller 35, the spring 43 causes the roller to follow the contour of the tilting cam 36.

The carriage I5 is pivoted only a short distance from the main narrowing shaft 6. Consequently, the angle through which it and the narrowing points 16 it carries move is great for a certain amount of linear movement. In contrast, in the Cotton machine only a small angular movement is effected during a relatively large amount of linear movement, due to the length of the gooseneck arms supporting the narrowing frame.

I claim:

1. In a flat knittingmachine, a series of spring beard needles movable as a unit, a plurality of vertical shafts, a narrowing frame slidably mounted upon the shafts, a series of narrowin points carried by said narrowing frame, and means for reciprocating said frame on said shafts.

2. In a flat knitting machine, a series of needles movable as a unit, a plurality of shafts, a narrowing frame slidably mounted upon the shafts, a carriage supported by the narrowing frame and carrying a series of narrowing points, means for reciprocating said frame on said shafts and means for tilting said carriage.

.3. Ina flat knitting machine, a series of needles movable as a unit, a plurality of parallel shafts, a spring encircling each of said shafts, a narrowing frame slidably. mounted upon said shafts and supporting a series of narrowing points, and means for reciprocating said frame on said shafts alternately against and with said springs.

4. In a flat knittin machine, a series of needles movable as a unit, a plurality of parallel shafts, a spring encircling each of said shafts, a narrow-- ing frame slidably mounted upon said shafts and supporting a seriesiof narrowing points, and camactuated means for reciprocating said frame on said shafts alternately against and with said springs.

:5. In aflat knitting machine, a series of needles movable as a unit, a plurality of parallel shafts, a narrowing frame slidably mounted upon the shafts, a carriage borne by the narrowing frame and carrying a series of narrowing ;points,,means for reciprocating said frame .on said shafts and cam-actuated means for tilting said carriage.

6. In afiat knitting machine, a series of needles movable as a unit, a plurality of parallel shafts, a narrowing frame slidably mounted upon the shafts, a carriage supported by the ,i-narrowing frame and carrying a series of narrowing points, means for reciprocating said frame'on said shafts and cam-actuated means for til-ting said carriage. the'ex-tent of movement of said tilting means being adjustable in both forward and backward directions.

7. In a flat knitting machine, a series of needles movable as a unit, a plurality of parallel shafts, a spring encircling each of said shafts, a narrowing frame slidably mounted upon said shafts, a carriage supported by the narrowing frame and carrying a series of narrowing points, camactua-ted means for sliding said frame on said shafts alternately against and with saidspring's, and cam-actuated meansfor tilting said carriage.

8. In a flat knitting machine, a series of needles movable as a unit, a plurality of parallel shafts, a spring encircling each of said shafts, a narrowing frame slidably mounted upon said shafts, a carriage borne by the narrowing frame and supporting aseries of narrowing points, cam-actuated means for sliding said frame on said shafts alternately against and with said springs, and cam-actuated means for tilting said carriage, the extent of movement of said tilting means being adjustable in both forward and backward directions. v

9. In a flat knitting machine, aseries .of spring beard needles movable as a unit, a plurality of vertical shafts, a narrowing frame slidably mounted upon the shafts, a carriage supported by the narrowing frame and carrying aseries of narrowing points, means for reciprocating said frame on said shafts and means for tilting said carriage.

10. In a flat knitting machine, a series of needles movable as a unit, a plurality of parallel shafts, a narrowing frame slidably mounted upon the shafts, a carriage supported by the narrowing frame and carrying a series of narrowing points, means for reciprocating said frame on said shafts and cam-actuated means for tilting said carriage against the action of springs.

ARTHUR J COBERT.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,841,704 Bock Jan. 19, L932 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 448,795 Great Britain June 15,, 1936 

